[michael21]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

Hmmmm?

Poll coming.

nope

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Salman!

This ramadan I'll be fasting (no eating, drinking or even deeply inhaling the smell of food) from 4am to around 9pm... etc. etc...

That was really interesting Salman, thanks for posting.

[Me. I Am Salman]

no worries

[michael21]

Originally Posted by Salman!

no worries

when do you start this non eating drinking event

[GypsyGoth]

I'm not christian either, so nope I won't be giving anything up.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I am not sure what a christian actually is (and i doubt many on here could tell me either) so I will be ignoring this silly practice (ramadamadingo same)

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Cherie

do you celebrate Christmas?

All our lovely Christian festivals plundered by the disbelievers,enjoying all the fun in something they say doesn't exist

[GypsyGoth]

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by michael21

when do you start this non eating drinking event

i thought it was July but it turns out late June, at leasts it's after exams tho
last year i had to fast whilst working at mcdonalds

[joeysteele]

I have said nothing.
I don't go with the giving something up for lent things really,what I do is try to do more as to some cause or for other people I may come across.

Rather than give up chocolate or some activity I prefer to set out to do more of something that will benefit other people,even something I may be uncomfortable with myself.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Salman!

i thought it was July but it turns out late June, at leasts it's after exams tho
last year i had to fast whilst working at mcdonalds

Keep focused on the Eid food! Nothing in McDonalds as good as that I reckon.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

do you celebrate Christmas?

christmas is not a religious festival i am afraid in the UK. The church tried to take it over but have failed as per

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

christmas is not a religious festival i am afraid in the UK. The church tried to take it over but have failed as per

Hanukkah's the way to go. Eight nights of gifts instead of one. We win. Because God likes us.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Salman!

This ramadan I'll be fasting (no eating, drinking or even deeply inhaling the smell of food) from 4am to around 9pm, before going to the hot crowded mosque for a 1h 45m 'taraweeh' prayer (specific prayer during Ramadan) at 10pm, every single day. Muslim prayer is like this btw http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._positions.jpg and in Taraweeh the prayer lasts for about 7 minutes, and we do 20 prayers in total. The Imaam leads the prayer and recites the Qur'an. Taraweeh prayer is so exhausting, you're legs ache. And we don't just do taraweeh prayer we have to do the usual daily 5 prayers too (one at sunrise, one at midday, one in the afternoon, one in sunset and one prayed in conjunction with taraweh) which you have to make an effort to go mosque each time to do. Women get it easy tbh they're not obliged to go to mosque so all of their prayers are shorter and from the comfort of their own home. In Ramadan you should also regularly read the Qur'an, and although masturbation is regarded as a sin anyway it completely breaks your fast during Ramadan so you absolutely cannot do it under any circumstances during that time. You can't have sex either when fasting and stuff like swearing makes your fast 'weak" so you should avoid that too. There's a load of other things you need to avoid too. This is all for one month straight

It probably sounds like torture to you all but most Muslims are really committed during the month so it soon enough just becomes routine, some even feel at peace and enjoy it. The hours spent fasting sound harsh but that's just because this particular Ramadan takes place in July where the day is much longer.. eventually Ramadan will be in the winter months again where the fast ends at around 4pm but there's a loooong way to go til that happens (to give you an idea of how long it takes, Ramadan 2006 began in late September. so it took eight years for it to get to early June, only like 2-3 months). Here's a link to the dates actually (scroll down) http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/ramadan-begins

I admit it's hard, but it goes pretty quick and I really love how you gather with all your extended family on loads of days to break fast, it's always fun

soz for the essay

I honestly cant imagine having that much dedication.

LOL at having to work at mcdonalds through that though

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Livia

Hanukkah's the way to go. Eight nights of gifts instead of one. We win. Because God likes us.

I forgot about the Christmas Armadillo. Yes but you had the bad ass God of the OT and the Christians got the good fairy one of the NT. Muslims got Alan, gods evil brother.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Livia

Keep focused on the Eid food! Nothing in McDonalds as good as that I reckon.

it's all so fatty I'm gonna be healthy this year

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I honestly cant imagine having that much dedication.

LOL at having to work at mcdonalds through that though

I got fired though and worked only on weekends so it was just like 2-3 days lol

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I forgot about the Christmas Armadillo. Yes but you had the bad ass God of the OT and the Christians got the good fairy one of the NT. Muslims got Alan, gods evil brother.

A little racist... it's the 'Holiday' Armadillo.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Livia

A little racist... it's the 'Holiday' Armadillo.

He can take it

he has a thick skin

[Me. I Am Salman]

what's shiksa Livia, I used to always ask my jewish RE teacher in year 7 but she'd look embarrassed and not tell me

[T*]

Originally Posted by Cherie

do you celebrate Christmas?

I celebrate Christmas and I don't believe in religion, neither does my family.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Cuda

I celebrate Christmas and I don't believe in religion, neither does my family.

neither does santa

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cuda

I celebrate Christmas and I don't believe in religion, neither does my family.

Yeah, christmas has evolved way past its original roots I think. Barely anyone sees it as a religious thing nowadays

[Z]

One time I tried to give up alcohol for Lent because I couldn't be arsed getting drunk at my friend's birthday party and she was seriously annoyed so I caved in. I wasn't going to keep it up for the entirety of Lent, I don't even know how long Lent lasts

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Salman!

This ramadan I'll be fasting (no eating, drinking or even deeply inhaling the smell of food) from 4am to around 9pm, before going to the hot crowded mosque for a 1h 45m 'taraweeh' prayer (specific prayer during Ramadan) at 10pm, every single day. Muslim prayer is like this btw http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._positions.jpg and in Taraweeh the prayer lasts for about 7 minutes, and we do 20 prayers in total. The Imaam leads the prayer and recites the Qur'an. Taraweeh prayer is so exhausting, you're legs ache. And we don't just do taraweeh prayer we have to do the usual daily 5 prayers too (one at sunrise, one at midday, one in the afternoon, one in sunset and one prayed in conjunction with taraweh) which you have to make an effort to go mosque each time to do. Women get it easy tbh they're not obliged to go to mosque so all of their prayers are shorter and from the comfort of their own home. In Ramadan you should also regularly read the Qur'an, and although masturbation is regarded as a sin anyway it completely breaks your fast during Ramadan so you absolutely cannot do it under any circumstances during that time. You can't have sex either when fasting and stuff like swearing makes your fast 'weak" so you should avoid that too. There's a load of other things you need to avoid too. This is all for one month straight

It probably sounds like torture to you all but most Muslims are really committed during the month so it soon enough just becomes routine, some even feel at peace and enjoy it. The hours spent fasting sound harsh but that's just because this particular Ramadan takes place in July where the day is much longer.. eventually Ramadan will be in the winter months again where the fast ends at around 4pm but there's a loooong way to go til that happens (to give you an idea of how long it takes, Ramadan 2006 began in late September. so it took eight years for it to get to early June, only like 2-3 months). Here's a link to the dates actually (scroll down) http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/ramadan-begins

I admit it's hard, but it goes pretty quick and I really love how you gather with all your extended family on loads of days to break fast, it's always fun

soz for the essay

..oh I haven't got time to read this now with work but I'm going to read it later, Salman...

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Cuda

I celebrate Christmas and I don't believe in religion, neither does my family.

Well you are not celebrating Christmas then You are celebrating The Holidays!